Aguero back with a bang as City rout Blackburn

Sergio Aguero marked his comeback with a goal as free-scoring Manchester City took their season's tally to 99 with a 5-0 win over Blackburn.

Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko also struck twice as City eased to an ultimately comfortable victory in their FA Cup third-round replay at the Etihad Stadium.

City were lacklustre in the first half but Negredo's first on the stroke of half-time changed the course of the game and a fourth-round date with Watford was secured.

Negredo's quickfire double either side of the interval took his total for the campaign to 21, two ahead of Aguero.

Aguero, back in action after an eight-game absence with a calf injury, soon cut into that deficit, scoring within a minute of coming on to replace the Spaniard.

Dzeko also maintained his recent form with his brace taking him to a not insignificant 15 for the season.

The game lacked the intensity of recent Premier League games but chances were still created by both sides in what proved an evenly-contested first half.

Dzeko spurned a number of them, first heading over the bar in the second minute and then missing the target again moments later after combining with Negredo.

Blackburn were lacking their star striker Jordan Rhodes but the Championship side were determined to make a fight of it and in Tom Cairney, recently signed on a permanent deal from Hull, they had one of the game's most influential midfielders.

DJ Campbell almost caught City's second-choice keeper Costel Pantilimon in possession and Cairney had their first attempt on goal when Joleon Lescott blocked his shot.